Connector for frame members

Abstract

A pair of steel counterpart pieces, of steel, each being integral, and including a backing element, a side blade element, and a hook element. The side elements are on opposite side edges respectively of the backing elements. The pieces are mounted on frame members to be connected that have flat surfaces that interengage. Upon camming action between the pieces of the connector the frame members are brought toward each other with their flat surfaces interengaging.

I claim: 
     
       1. A connector for detachably interconnecting frame members having flat surfaces adapted to be disposed vertically and which interengage when the frame members are interconnected, the connector including two pieces adapted to be mounted on the frame members respectively, and when so mounted are in positions set out hereinbelow.   each of said two pieces comprising a bracket and a hanger, separate from the frame members and adapted to be mounted thereon,   the pieces having longitudinal directions adapted to be disposed vertically in the direction of said flat surfaces,   the pieces having camming elements extending generally in said longitudinal direction but inclined relative thereto and toward each other and being mutually parallel, and also inclined in a plane perpendicular to said flat surfaces,   the pieces being adapted to be interengageable in response to movement of one frame member downwardly relative to the other frame member, and adapted to be operable for moving said frame members relatively toward each other in direction perpendicular to said flat surfaces, and thereby moving the flat surfaces into interengagement, and said interengagement thereby adapted to limit movement of the frame members toward each other and also adapted to limit downward movement of said one frame member,   each connector piece being a single piece including a backing element and the respective camming element extending generally transverse to the backing element,   the backing element is a flat piece,   the camming element includes a flat blade extending from one edge of the backing element perpendicularly from the backing element, and   the flat blade has a hook at the extended edge thereof.   
     
     
       2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein, the flat blades in the two pieces relatively oppositely converge/diverge in direction longitudinally of the pieces thereby forming mutual camming elements.   
     
     
       3. A connector according to claim 1 wherein, in each connector piece the camming element is shorter than the backing element, thereby leaving end extensions of the backing element beyond the camming element for accommodating means for mounting the connector piece, including holes in the end extensions for receiving mounting screws.   
     
     
       4. A connector according to claim 3 wherein, the backing element also includes a central hole, and   the camming element also includes a notch aligned transversely with the central hole in direction perpendicular to the backing element.   
     
     
       5. A connector according to claim 1 wherein, the pieces are constituted by identical stampings having corresponding identical elements shaped in mutually opposite directions.   
     
     
       6. A connector according to claim 5 wherein, the identical stampings are constituted by identical segments cut from a uniform, continuous strip.   
     
     
       7. A connector assembly for interconnecting a pair of frame members having outer flat surfaces in interengaging relation, and in which one of the frame members has a groove in its said outer flat surface of predetermined depth and with a flat bottom surface parallel with its said outer flat surface, said connector assembly including a pair of connector pieces constituted by a bracket and a hanger,   each connector piece including,   (a) an elongated flat base,   (b) a web extending along one side edge of the base and perpendicular thereto, and having a distal edge relative to the base, that is disposed at an acute angle to the base, and   (c) a hook along the distal edge,   the connector pieces being adapted to be secured respectively to the outer flat surface of one of the frame members and the flat bottom surface of the groove,   the hooks of the connector members being oppositely turned when so mounted, and having open ends to enable the hooks to be hookingly engaged by relatively mutual longitudinal movement.   
     
     
       8. A connector assembly according to claim 7, in combination with said frame members.